Xogdor Block 2 Suborbital Propulsion Testbed VTVL Launch Vehicle

Astrobotic proposes to adapt its Xogdor Block 1 reusable rocket vehicle, which is currently being developed under a NASA contract, to serve as a versatile high-altitude supersonic testbed for 5,000-10,000-lbf rotating detonation rocket engines (RDRE) and other advanced liquid rocket engines.  This will provide DoD and other U.S. Government stakeholders with a unique flight testing capability for emerging propulsion systems on a low-cost, high-cadence fully reusable rocket vehicle. The Phase I effort will focus on adapting the current Xogdor design to integrate and support a 5,000-lbf+ LOX-LCH4 RDRE and developing a conceptual design for a high altitude Block 2 variant of the Xogdor propulsion testbed.  Astrobotic will also develop a test plan for assembling a Block 1 vehicle or minimally viable propulsion system and conducting hot-fire hover testing in Phase II and assess the feasibility of conducting that assembly and test campaign within the budget and schedule limitations of a Phase II.  Astrobotic will also identify and assess its top two test site locations for performing the Phase II hover testing.  Astrobotic will also work with AFRL and the RDRE developer to develop an interface control document that will establish precedent, standards, and procedures for integrating future experimental rocket engines on the Xogdor vehicle.